"one who farms the public revenues; in NT a publican, collector of imposts, revenue officer, tax gatherer, Mt. 5:46; 9:10, 11; 10:3; Mk. 2:15f.; Lk. 3:12"
Definition and meaning
one who farms the public revenues; in NT a publican, collector of imposts, revenue officer, tax gatherer, Mt. 5:46; 9:10, 11; 10:3; Mk. 2:15f.; Lk. 3:12
In the original Greek the word is written: τελώνης
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of telones (G5057) across the King James Bible.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
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Common questions
Strong's G5057 (telones) is a Greek word that means: one who farms the public revenues; in NT a publican, collector of imposts, revenue officer, tax gatherer, Mt. 5:46; 9:10, 11; 10:3; Mk. 2:15f.; Lk. 3:12 It appears 21 times in the King James Bible.
The word telones (G5057) appears 21 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5057 is telones, a Greek word defined as: one who farms the public revenues; in NT a publican, collector of imposts, revenue officer, tax gatherer, Mt. 5:46; 9:10, 11; 10:3; Mk. 2:15f.; Lk. 3:. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
telones is a Greek word found in the New Testament.